Four Convicted for Spreading Extremist Religious Content in Kazakhstan

A court in the Jambyl region has sentenced four residents of the village of Birlesu-Enbek to prison for inciting religious hatred, Orda.kz reports.

According to investigators, the defendants distributed banned audio and video materials on social media and actively promoted the ideas of a nontraditional religious movement. Authorities say the activity was systematic.

The group was arrested in early 2025 following an operation led by the local police and the National Security Committee (KNB), under the direction of the district prosecutor’s office. During searches, officers seized literature and other materials deemed extremist and banned for distribution in Kazakhstan.

In June, the Jambyl District Court found all four individuals guilty under Article 174, Part 1 of the Criminal Code (incitement of religious hatred) and sentenced each to two years in prison.

The ruling has entered into legal force.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov